{"id":16562,"date":"2018-06-18T17:03:38","date_gmt":"2018-06-18T21:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=16562"},"modified":"2018-06-18T18:16:59","modified_gmt":"2018-06-18T22:16:59","slug":"pm-says-major-employer-threatening-to-close-over-lack-of-customer-service-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/pm-says-major-employer-threatening-to-close-over-lack-of-customer-service-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"PM says major employer threatening to close over lack of customer service skills"},"content":{"rendered":"
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He did not name the company but Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed that the lack of compassion by employees may cause a major employer here to shut its doors.<\/p>

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The prime minister said, principals of the company visited him on Friday and indicated that they were thinking of closing within a month.<\/p>\n

“They indicated to us that they may have to close very shortly within 30 days which could see a few hundred people losing their work,” Browne told Pointe FM.<\/p>

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He said the development is\u00a0 “very unfortunate” and said he tried to get the employer to stay by offering concessions.<\/p>

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“I even went as far as calling the landlord who they pay about $100,00 in rent and ask him to cut his rent to 50 per cent down to 50 thousand and the landlord agreed right in their presence, in order to salvage the business.”<\/p>\n

Browne said the main problem being faced by the company is how the staff treat customers.<\/p>

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“Whereas our people are very skilled…they reckon that the soft skills are very weak,” he said.<\/p>\n

“When I speak to\u00a0soft skills, I am referring to the emotional empathy, the kind of civility that is needed on the job.<\/p>

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“They communicate well in terms of speaking English but the way they communicate with people is a problem,” Browne lamented.<\/p>

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He said the issue needs to be tackled nationally\u00a0especially in the service sector.<\/p>\n

Browne said customer service skills are becoming increasingly valuable “which unfortunately\u00a0are not deeply embedded\u00a0in our culture.”<\/p>\n

The prime minister says the issue needs to be tackled on all fronts, particularly among the youth.<\/p>\n

“Even within our society, some people go to work and refuse to say good morning to their peers.”<\/p>\n

Browne says hotels are also complaining and customer service and that he was prepared to lead by example.<\/p>\n

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He did not name the company but Prime Minister Gaston Browne has revealed that the lack of compassion by employees may cause a major employer here to shut its doors. 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